Chelsea confirm signing of Ben Chilwell from Leicester as Frank Lampard continues recruitment drive

Done deal: Ben Chilwell arrives to solve a problem at left-back for Chelsea
REUTERS
Tony Mogan|George Flood26 August 2020

Chelsea have completed the signing of Leicester City star Ben Chilwell.

The Blues are believed to have struck a £50million deal to bring the England international to Stamford Bridge.

Frank Lampard has long considered the 23-year-old an ideal long-term solution at left-back, a problem position since the manager’s return to west London.

Chelsea have been tracking Chilwell since before January, but held reservations over the fee, with Leicester having initially hoped to bank around £80m - similar to the price Manchester United paid for Harry Maguire last summer.

However, given Chilwell's desire to join Lampard's project at Chelsea and the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic on clubs, the Foxes eventually dropped their asking price.

The deal was officially confirmed on Wednesday, with Chilwell telling Chelsea's official website: "I am delighted to be joining Chelsea at this very exciting time for the club.

"I’m looking forward to being a part of this young, dynamic squad led by Frank Lampard as we challenge for honours next season.

"I can’t wait to get started and hopefully it won’t be long before we’re playing in front of the Chelsea fans at Stamford Bridge."

Chilwell - who has earned 11 senior international caps for England to date but missed out on selection for the latest squad due to a heel injury - made 123 appearances in total for Leicester after graduating from the club's academy and being handed his first-team debut in October 2015.

He becomes Chelsea's third signing of the summer after attacking duo Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner, while the Blues are also close to recruiting former Paris Saint-Germain captain Thiago Silva on a free transfer.

Chelsea are also expected to eventually complete the signing of German playmaker Kai Havertz this summer after seeing an initial £58.6m bid rejected by Bayer Leverkusen last week.

"We are very pleased to have completed our third addition to our exciting squad for the coming season," said Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia.

"Ben brings plenty of top-level experience playing in the Premier League, Champions League and at international level, despite his young age.

"We are confident Ben will adapt very quickly to being a Chelsea player and with the fixture programme for 2020/21 especially busy, he is a fantastic addition to the squad needed to challenge for honours."

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